Pocket flash-light



D. A. RUNNION.

POCKET FLASH LIGHT.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 8. I919.

1 ,32 1 1 5 3 Patented Nov. 11,1919.

DAVID A. RUNNION, OF FORTRFSS MONROE, VIRGINIA.

POCKET FLASH-LIGHT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 11, 1919.

Application filed March 8, 1919. Serial No. 281,479.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, DAVID A. RUNNION, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fortress Monroe, in the county of Elizabeth City and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pocket Flash-Lights, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electric lamps adapted to be carried in the pocket; and it consists in the novel construction and combination of the parts hereinafter fully described and claimed which specially adapt the lamp for use in connection with a writing tablet or other similar article, inclosed in the lamp casing.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view, partially in section, of the casing of a lamp constructed according to this invention. Fig. 2 i a similar view but shows the cover opened to expose the writing tablet. Fig. 3 is a front View of the parts shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a front view of the parts inside the casing, the inner cover or hand plate being raised. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the switch. v

The body portion 2 of the casing is preferably formed of thin sheet metal, and is rectangular in shape. An inner cover or hand plate 3 is pivoted to the front edge of the top or end 4 of the body portion by a hinge 5. This hand plate 3 has side flanges 6 which stifl'en it,. and which fit between the sides of the body portion when the hand plate is closed down, and which rest on stop 7 on the sides of the body portion, so as to afford a firm rest or support for the hand in writing.

An outer cover 8 is provided, and has arms 9 on the upper end portions of its sides, which are pivoted to the middle parts of the sides adjacent to the top 4 of the body portion. These arms 9 straddle the body portion, and the outer cover has side flanges which stiffen it and which fit down over the sides of the body portion.

The outer cover has a spring latch 10 of any approved construction for securing it to the body portion so as to prevent it from opening accidentally.

A reflector and lamp socket 12 is secured to the middle part of the body portion, and 14 is an electric light bulb secured in the said socket. A battery 15 of any approved make is arranged in the body portion of the Casing, and is operatively connected with A writing tablet 16, or other similar memorandum pad, sheet, time-table, mirror,

or other article which requires to be illuminated by the lamp, is attached to the inside of the outer cover. The'writing tablet shown consists of a series of sheets of paper having a-metallic binder 17 at the upper end, and this binder has a hole 18 which engages detachably with a hook 19 on the outer cover, so that the Writing tablet is prevented from being accidentally detached from the cover, but can be removed and replaced as often as necessary.

The inner cover or hand plate 3 preferably has a recess 23 --in its face, to accommodate the front portion of the writing tablet. When the outer cover is closed the writing tablet is concealed in the space or chamber between the outer cover and the hand plate. When the outer cover is opened, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, it i moved crosswise of the top 4, and is supported nearly in line with the back of the body portion, so that the Writing tablet is in the path of the rays of light issuing from the electric light bulb.

The top 4 forms a stop which holds the outer cover at a slight angle with the'body portion, so that the rays of light will fall on the Writing tablet to the best advantage. When thus illuminated the tablet can be written on, and the hand of the writer rests on the hand plate or inner cover 3, which need not beraised except to replace the battery when exhausted. 1

One terminal 24 of thelamp is preferably connected with the battery by a contact spring'25, and its other terminal is preferably connected with a spring switch arm 26 which is secured to the casing by a rivet 27. The arm 26 has an inclined portion 28 near its free end, or a V-shaped portion, and its free end has a contact edge 29. A block of insulating material 30 is secured to the top 4 of the casing, and a forked guide jaw 31 is secured to this block. The battery 15 has a contact strip 32 which is slipped into engagement with the forked jaw '31. A slidable finger-piece or button 34 is provided, and engages with a longitudinal slot 35 in the side of the casing. This button has a projection 36 arranged adjacent to the inclined portion 28 of the switch arm 26, and

when the button is slid longitudinally in When the button is moved so that the pro-- jection passes beyond the inclined portion, the contact spring is held in constant en'- gagement with the forked jaw. The pres sure of the inclined portion of the spring switch arm moves the button in the reverse direction and opens the circuit automatically.

"W hat I claim is:

1. A flashlight, comprising a casing provided with an inner plate at its front side which is adapted for use as a hand rest, an electric lamp bulb arranged at one end of the casing, and a front cover for the casing pivoted to its end portion adjacent to the electric lamp bulb so that its inner surface is illuminated by the lamp when the cover is opened, said cover folding down over the said inner plate when closed.

2. A flashlight, comprising a casing provided .with an inner plate at its front side which is adapted for use as a hand rest, an electric lamp bulb arranged at one end of the casing, a front cover for the casing pivoted to its end portion adjacent to the electric lamp bulb so that its inner surface is illuminated by the lamp when the cover is opened, said cover folding down over the said inner plate when closed, and a detachable tablet or similar article secured against the inner surface of the front cover.

A flashlight, comprising a casing prov mamas into the said chamber, and an electric light bulb arranged at the said end of the body portion and adapted to illuminate the said tablet when the outer cover is opened.

i. A flashlight comprising a casing provided with a cover having projecting arms at one end which straddle one end portion of the body and which ardpivoted to its sides to the rear ofgits front edge, so that the coveris moved crosswise of the end of the body when. opened, and an electric light bulb arranged .at the said end of the body portion. i

5. A fiashlight,comprising a casing provided with acover having projecting arms at one end which straddle one end portion of the body and which are pivoted to its sides to the rear of its front edge, so that the cover is moved crosswise of the end of the body when opened, a hand plate hinged to the said end portion of the casing body in front of the cover pivots and having flanges which slide between the sides ofthecasing, and an electric light bulb arrangedat the said end of the body portion.

In testimony whereof I signature.

DAVID A. name have affixed" my 

